IFOD Flashcards
mel/cdl ops specs performance weight and balance
What does the MEL stand for?
Minimum equipment list
What is the MEL used for?
The MEL lists inoperative aircraft systems. It is used to determine whether or not a flight is legal to depart with a particular component inoperative. The MEL provides this information to the pilots and flight dispatcher. The MEL is referred to only on the ground, not while in flight.
What CDL stand for?
Configuration Deviation List
What is the CDL used for?
The CDL lists components on the outside of the aircraft that are physically missing from the aircraft. When a part is removed, the configuration of the aircraft is changed. Sometimes there are takeoff and landing weight penalties associated with CDL items.
If an item is inoperative, and it cannot be found in the MEL, what course of action should be taken?
If the item cannot be found in the MEL, then the item must be fixed.
If an airplane is already out of the gate, sitting at the end of the runway, and the captain calls on the radio to advise that an electrical generator just went inoperative, what must be checked to see if the flight is still legal to depart?
The MEL
Is the MEL used on the ground, in-flight, or both?
The MEL is referred to only on the ground . For issues in flight refer to the operating manual, and the emergency checklist.
What does the AFM stand for?
Airplane Flight Manual
What is Ops Specs?
Operation Specification
What is the difference between the AFM and the ops specs?
The AFM is a manual for the aircraft written by the manufacturers. The Operation Specification is a company written manual that provides information about the company’s geographic and operating preferences.
What is an adequate airport?
An airport is considered adequate when it satisfies the aircraft performance requirements applicable at the expected landing weight, availability of the airport, over flight and landing authorizations, capability of ground operations assistance, and availability of NAVAIDs, and airport category for rescue and firefighting.
What is a suitable airport?
A suitable airport is an airport confirmed to be adequate, but also has the dispatch weather requirements in term of ceiling and visibility. In addition, crosswind forecast should be acceptable for the same period.
What is the maximum structural takeoff weight for the B737?
174,200
Is it possible to always takeoff at 174,200 lbs?
No
What are some of the factors that may have an effect on the maximum allowable takeoff weight?
hint: RAFTCAME
Runway length and slope Airport Elevation Flap setting Temperature Contaminated runway (snow,slush,ice, etc) Air conditioning packs off MEL/CDL items Engine anti ice on wind/ weather
What document does one refer to when considering maximum allowable takeoff weight for each flight?
The airport runway analysis will determine the maximum allowable takeoff weight for each flight
What is the standard flap setting for takeoff with the B737?
15 degrees of flap
What other flap setting are available for takeoff with the B737?
5 and 25 degrees of flap
What effect does snow, ice, or slush on a runway have on takeoff performance?
Decreases performance. Contaminated runways call for large takeoff weight penalties.
Are air conditioning packs normally on or off for takeoff?
Normally on, however, they can be turned off in order to achieve a higher maximum allowable take off weight.
If the air temperature increases, what effect does it have on takeoff weight?
The higher the temperature, the more of a penalty there is to the maximum takeoff weight.
Define the center of gravity?
The point at which all of the weight of an object is considered to be concentrated (the point at which the airplane would balance perfectly on the head of a pin.)
What does the MAC stand for and what is it?
Mac stands for Mean Aerodynamic Chord. It is the chord of an imaginary rectangular wing that has the same aerodynamic characteristics as the actual wing.
What is the STAB trim setting for?
The STAB trim is used to adjust the stabilizer for the correct airplane nose up setting for take off.
What does SEL/CAL stand for and what is it?
SELCAL stands for Selective Calling, and it is a means of communication between pilots and flight dispatchers. Each aircraft when it is built is assigned its own SELCAL code. To communicate with the aircraft, a flight dispatcher calls a ground based communication operator who can establish contact with the aircraft. The operator sets the SELCAL system on board the aircraft which alerts a bing bong bing bong chime with a blue light.
What does the FAR 121.00 say about communications?
It states that the pilot in command and flight dispatcher must be able to communicate with each other at all times, regardless of where on the flight currently is. Both are responsible for the safety of flight according to regulations, and as a result must always be able to communicate with each other.
Who is SFO ARINC?
SFO ARINC is the company that provides contract communications capability to the U.S. airlines. The flight dispatcher simply places a telephone call to SFO ARINC, who provides a phone patch with a given flight.
What is an ACARS?
ACARS (Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting Systems). A text messaging system between pilots and dispatchers.
How many ARINC. Relay stations are there in the U.S. ?
TWO. SFO and NYC
What government agency is responsible for the United States Air Traffic systems?
The F.A.A.
What is class A airspace and where is it located?
Class A airspace is found FL180 to FL600. In order to fly class A airspace, a flight must be on a IFR flight plan.
What is class B airspace and what is the requirements to fly there?
Class B airspace is located around the nations’ busiest airports which have Terminal Radar Approach Control facilities and generally goes from the surface to 10,000 feet. In order to fly class B airspace, you must have two-way radio communication, a transponder with Mode C (or S), ATC clearance, and a private pilots license.
What is class C airspace and what are the requirements to fly there?
Class C is found around medium busy airports in the United States (ABQ,MSY,PDX) that have Terminal Radar Approach control facilities (TRACONS) and goes from the surface to 4000 feet. The requirements to fly class C airspace are two way radio communication, and a transponder with mode C.
What is class D airspace and what are the requirements to fly there?
Class D airspace is found around smaller American airports which have operating air traffic control tower. It goes from the surface to 2500 feet above the airport The only requirement to fly class D airspace is two- radio communication.
What is Class E airspace?
Class E airspace is another controlled airspace, which is not otherwise, classified as Class A,B,C, or D airspace.
What is class G airspace?
Uncontrolled airspace
Define and give an example of a prohibited area.
A prohibited area is airspace in which flight is absolutely forbidden. It is possible to sometimes fly over it. Examples would be the White House, the Pentagon, and the US capital building.
What is a restricted area?
A restricted area is airspace where the United States military performs war games, dog fight training, etc. Sometimes it is possible to get permission from the controlling agency for that area to plan a flight through. It depends on whether the area is active or not. Specific information on a restricted area can be found on the side panel of the High Altitude IFR En-Route charts.
What is a Warning Area?
A warning Area is found off shore in international waters. It is similar to a restricted because occasionally the United States military performs training in these areas. The F.A.A. has no control of these areas since they are not in international waters. If a Warning Area is NOTAM’d “hot” or “active”, do not plan a flight through it. If you do, ATC will automatically re-route the flight around it.
What does A.R.T.C.C. stand for and what is its function?
A.R.T.C.C. stands for Air Route Traffic Control Center. There are 20 domestic centers in the United States. A.R.T.C.C. use A.R.S.R. (Air Route Surveillance Radar) to track enroute aircraft. A.R.S.R. is a long range radar, capable of picking up aircraft 150-200nm from the radar site. (There are 24 controlled by the US, 20 contiguous plus Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and Guam)
What does T.R.A.C.O.N, stand for and what is its function?
T.R.A.C.O.N. stands for Terminal Radar Approach Control facility. The nations busiest airports ORD,DFW have tracons (sometimes called radar rooms), which are staffed by air traffic controllers. The controllers use ASR to track departing and arriving aircraft. They use the radar to identify, then to sequence and separate them from other aircraft in the terminal area.
What is a Transponder with Mode C?
A transponder is a “black box”” found in the cockpit of an aircraft which helps to identify the aircraft to air traffic controllers. If an aircraft is equipped with a transponder, the flight will appear on the controllers radar screen as an alpha-numeric data block. The block contains specific info about a flight such as flt #, route of flight, alt, and ground speed. It helps to positively identify the aircraft . Mode C (and mode S) is the altitude reporting capability of the transponder, and some older transponders like mode A don’t have alt reporting capability.
What is an A.D.I.Z.?
A.D.I.Z. stands for Air defense Identification Zone and it is located around the boarder of the United States. The U.S. military positively identifies all aircraft crossing the boarder. All aircraft that penetrate the A.D.I.Z. must be on and I.F.R or D.V.F.R. flight plan, and cross within 5 mins of the original flight plan E.T.A. and within 10 miles of their flight plan estimate over land and 20 miles over water.
Where are the Jet Routes and Q Routes found?
Jet Routes are high altitude IFR Routes and they are located at FL180-FL450
Where are Victor airways found?
Victor airways are low altitude IFR routes and they are found from 1200 feet AGL- 17999 feet
What is a DP?
DP stands for Departure Procedure
What is a S.T.A.R?
S.T.A.R. stands for Standard Terminal Arrival Route and it is a published arrival procedure
What does A.T.I.S. stand for and it its function?
A.T.I.S. stands for Automated Terminal Information Service. Most ATC towers have A.T.I.S. available to pilots, A.T.I.S. is a looped tape recording which contains information about the airport, such as the actual hourly weather sequence, active runways, active instrument approaches in use, and any other important information about the airport. Pilots tune into the A.T.I.S. frequency to obtain the latest airport information.
What does the term VFR mean?
VFR stands for Visual Flight Rules. If a pilot is flying VFR, it means that they are solely responsible for maintaining their own traffic separation from other aircraft. The ATC controllers are not held responsible, as they control IFR flights. In order to takeoff or land at an airport under VFR, the ceiling must be not less then 1000 feet with visibility not less then 3 statue miles. If weather is below mins making the field IFR conditions, pilot needs to be instrument rated to takeoff or request special VFR clearance.
What is an IFR clearance?
An IFR clearance is specific instructions from ATC as to the exact route of flight that is to be flown, the altitude, transponder code, and departure instructions for a flight. The clearance is read to the flight crew and verified prior to departure. Once the pilots accept the IFR clearance, they are expected to adhere to it , with absolutely no deviation during the flight, unless the clearance is amended by an ATC controller. Before departing on a IFR flight, the pilot or flight dispatcher must file an IFR flight plan with an ARTCC at least 30 mins prior to departure.
What are the four main transponder codes? Emergency, hijack, radio failure and VFR
7700-emergency, 7500 hijack, 7600 radio failure, and 1200-VFR flight
What is clearance delivery?
Clearance delivery is the position in the ATC control tower which reads the IFR clearance to the pilots when requested to do so.
What is the function of ground control?
Ground control is a position in the ATC tower which controls and separates all aircraft which are taxiing around an airport.
What is primary and secondary radar?
ATC controllers use both primary and secondary radar to identify aircraft. The primary radar paints an aircraft blimp on a controller’s radar scope. The secondary radar actually interrogates an aircraft’s transponder, and shows the aircraft as an Alpha-numeric data block on the controller’s radar screen
What are the two types of NOTAMs?
D- Distant: items relating to safety, closed runways, ILS out of service, VOR out of service, etc.
FDC- Flight Data Center: Changes to publications, approach plates, charts, etc
What are a TFR?
A TFR (Temporary Flight Restrictions) is an Area of special security interest. A “Superbowl” will usually create a TFR. Washington DC and Cap David a regular TFR’s, and are noted as such on VFR charts. You would check NOTAMs for an TFR.
If DFW airport would temporary close down several runways, what type of NOTAM would be issued?
This would be issued in a NOTAM D
What is ATCSCC?
Air Traffic Control Systems Command Center located in Hendon, VA is the primary coordination point for all air traffic issues.
Who issues ground stops?
ATC
What color are Precision Approach runway edge lights?
All White, until the last 2000 feet remaining, the amber (yellow).
What does S.F.L. stand for and what are they?
S.F.L. stands for Sequenced Flashing Lights (sometimes called Rabbit Lights) and they are part of the approach light system.
What does R.C.L.S. stand for and what are they?
R.C.L.S. stands for Runway Centerline Light System. They are centerline lights that are all white until the last 3000 feet or remaining runway. Then they are 2000 feet alternating red/white, and the last 1000 feet of remaining runway the lights are all red.
What does T.D.Z.L. stand for and what are they?
T.D.Z.L. stands for Touchdown Zone Lights. They are very bright rows of lights that are recessed in the runway in the touchdown zone (first 3000 feet of the approach end of the runway)
What does R.E.I.L. stand for and what are they?
R.E.I.L. stands for Runway Edge Identifier Lights. They are two flashing strobe lights, one located on each side of the runway threshold at the approach end of the runway.
What color are taxiway light?
Blue
How are runways numbered?
Runways are numbered as they relate to magnetic North. Examples, 35C- 350 heading.
What are V.A.S.I. lights?
V.A.S.I. stands for Visual Approach Slope Indicator lights. They are used by pilots flying a visual approach to determine whether or not the aircraft is on the glideslope.
What color are airport rotating beacons?
Civil airport = green/white
military = green/white/white(dual flash of white)
What color are runway threshold lights?
Green
What does P.C.L. stand for?
Pilot Controlled Lighting
What does ARFF stand for?
Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting
What does the lightning Bolt represent on an approach plate?
Final approach fix (FAF) for a precision approach and the glideslope intercept point.
What does the X (Maltese Cross) represent on an approach plate?
The final approach fix (FAF) for a non precision approach.
How are the approach categories (A,B,C,D, and E) determined?
They are determined by an aircraft’s approach speed.
What category is the B737?
Approach category C